If you want to play classic video games but don’t want to deal with low-res graphics, clunky analog video connections, and wiggly cartridges to get the pin connections just right, check out these modern systems that will let you play old games.
Modern video games are amazing. With realistic graphics, realistic physics, extensive artificial intelligence, and online multiplayer options, today’s games are far more complex than those of old.
That doesn’t change the fact that some of the greatest games of all time came out in the 1980s and 1990s, and many of them are still valid. It also doesn’t change the early Generation X/Millennial nostalgia for sprites, cartridges, low-res polygons, and CDs. Whether you swear by the NES, Sega Genesis, or PlayStation, there’s a new modern console for you to replay the games of your youth. Even better, these consoles take advantage of modern technology, so you don’t need to worry about digging through analog video cables or buying a graphics upscaler.
Here are the best retro gaming consoles you can buy, broken down into three groups. There are mini-consoles, hard-to-find smaller versions of the original system, filled with classic games. Then there are modern consoles with a robust back catalog. Finally, there are systems that can play traditional media on modern TVs.
mini retro system
The good news for mini retro systems is that almost all of them look good, and they all include classic games. The bad news is that they’re flying off the shelves, and none of them on this list can be easily found at their original reasonable price. They’re collectibles themselves, which means you’ll have to work hard to find them. They also look great on a shelf, possibly stacked on top of a larger original system.
A Modern System of Digital Classics
You can play classic games on most modern systems, but the games available vary widely. Then there are more unique options like the Arcade1Up cabinet, which offers preloaded arcade games on nearly full-size arcade cabinets, making them as useful as gaming furniture and gaming hardware.
Cassette Collector Console
These are systems for the true collector, the discerning connoisseur who keeps shelves of cartridges and discs of their favorite systems. These consoles can run original media, reproduce and upscale graphics to look great on modern screens. If you have your own collection of classic games, these are the systems to play them on. They’re usually more expensive than other devices on this list, but the experience is worth it. They also tend to have a deep out-of-stock list, so you’ll want to be patient enough to wait for them.
